NHS hero Rory MacLean said that the increase in the cost of living set to hit this week is “insane”.

He said: “My rent, gas, electricity have all gone up this month. Along with that I’ve just been served a repayment order on old council tax.

Rory MacLean said the cost of living increase is "insane"

“It leaves me with £36 a week for living on - the cost of living crisis is insane.”

Due to the nature of Rory’s course, he is not able to do part-time work as he often works 12-hour shifts on placement in the back of an ambulance.

While student paramedics have secured a £10,000 annual bursary in the way that nursing and midwifery students have, the rising cost of living has meant they do not see the benefit of it.

Rory isn’t the only one who is worried about rising costs.

As part of the Glasgow Times Beat The Squeeze series, we have also spoken to dozens of community groups and people at the frontline of providing services to people who are struggling.

Many of them have told of an increase in demand for their services.

John Lyons, who runs the Carntyne and Riddrie Credit Union and Foodbank said that last Friday, he was “busier than ever”. He was almost wiped out of food and worries that this is a sign of the times to come.

Maria and John Lyons, who worried the increase in demand for his foodbank is a sign of things to come.

The community champion has run the foodbank in Carntyne for many years and revealed that over the last three weeks, his team of volunteers have spent around £4500 just to keep supplies topped up. He added: “It’s a sign of the times and it’s only going to get worse.”

He revealed that the facility is fast running out of carrier bags which are a necessity. John said: “The need is never-ending, we are just getting busier and busier every day.

“Over the last three weeks alone we have spent over £4,500 just making sure things are topped up with food.”

John does not think measures that were intended to ease the cost of living announced last week go far enough. He added: “The chancellor must think we’re all stupid. A five pence cut in fuel duty? The price of fuel has already gone up by about 30p.

“It’s criminal what they have done to people on benefits as well, taking away that £20 uplift. And now with the cost of living going spiralling, they will get even less with their benefits.”

John Lyons of Carntyne and Riddrie foodbank

Despite this, John isn’t concerned about running out of food. He said: “We have some really good people on social media who donate to us or help us with Amazon shops and deliveries.

“I just put an appeal out on Twitter and someone will get in touch with us to help. But most just want to stay anonymous.

“Last week we had a 14-year-old girl who didn’t have her own bed and had to sleep in a bed with her mum. We managed to get her sorted with a duvet, quilts and pillows that someone ordered online.”

A crowdfunder has now been launched to assist users with their growing need for support with utility bills - a request that has been growing in demand at the food bank and is only expected to rise in the coming months.